…Sanwo-Olu describes the fire incident as both “unfortunate and shocking.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended heartfelt condolences to families, businesses, and institutions affected by Tuesday’s devastating fire at Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial complex located on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
The inferno, which spread to parts of Central Plaza near the popular Mandilas Market, claimed multiple lives and destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira.
In a statement released Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the fire as both “unfortunate and shocking,” noting that it represented a massive loss not only to the state but also to several organisations and individuals.
“The fire incident at Afriland Towers in Broad Street was worrisome and a significant loss to Lagos State Government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, United Capital PLC, and other companies and individuals,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received news of the fire outbreak. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, management, and staff of all the organisations that lost their loved ones. I wish the injured persons a speedy recovery.”
Among the victims were four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and six employees of United Capital PLC, both of which had offices in the upper floors of Afriland Towers. Additional victims reportedly died in hospitals after being rushed from the scene of the blaze.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also expressed sympathy with traders at Central Plaza who suffered significant asset losses during the fire. He pledged that the Lagos State Government would ramp up fire prevention efforts and safety protocols across the state’s commercial zones.
“The government will continue to support efforts aimed at preventing and swiftly arresting such ugly incidents in the future,” he said.
The governor lauded the quick intervention by emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Ambulance Services, and the Federal Fire Service, noting that their timely actions helped contain the fire and minimize casualties.
In a separate statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also conveyed condolences to the affected families and institutions, including FIRS, United Capital, and United Bank for Africa (UBA). He expressed sorrow over the lives lost and injuries sustained, and commended the courage and urgency displayed by emergency services and first responders.
“I urge greater caution, enhanced training, and better alertness to prevent such disasters in the future,” Tinubu stated, praying for the souls of the departed and healing for the injured.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the fire as Lagos reels from yet another high-impact urban disaster in its commercial hub.
